Yakovlev MFI submission

[Collimatrix]

I found this interesting picture of the Yakovlev MFI design:

 

 

Obviously, it was never built.  The MiG submission was the 1.44 and the Sukhoi submission was the SU-47.

[LostCosmonaut]

I can't tell from this angle, is it a twin engine design?

 

Also, planform alignment strikes again.

[Collimatrix]

Single engine, which I have read was not in favor at the time.  After Afghanistan, Frontal Aviation was completely sold on twin engines, cost and aerodynamics be damned.

 

 

Engine was going to be NK-321 derivative (blackjack's engine).

[Sturgeon]

What was the reasoning behind twin engines? Were the Soviet turbojets not reliable enough to ensure a single-engined bird would keep flying in hot and high environments?

[Collimatrix]

I'm not sure why, but I suspect that survivability was a major concern.  Sukhoi's S-37 delta wasn't popular with the brass for the same reason:

 

 

That NK-32/NK-321 is a hell of an engine, BTW.  I'm assuming they would have reduced the bypass ratio for a fighter version, but the bomber version delivers an outstanding 55,000 lbs of thrust in afterburner.  That Yakovlev MFI would have had about as much thrust as a rafale or EF-2000, just on one engine.